MALACANANG has reiterated the administration’s gratitude to the public for standing behind President Duterte and supporting him and his programs for the past years, Communications Secretary and acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar said yesterday.
The statement was made on the heels of the “Salamat, PRRD” concert at the Quirino grandstand on Sunday night that featured some of the country’s renowned singers.
“Sa sambayanang Pilipino, maraming, maraming salamat sa inyo,” said Duterte, who serenaded the public with his rendition of his favorite song “Ikaw,” while a fireworks display lit up the sky.
Artists like Martin Nievera, Jed Madela, Ice Seguerra, Jimmy Bondoc, and Cesar Montano, Sen.-elect Robin Padilla and the PhilHarmonic Orchestra performed some of the favorite songs of the President while some of his Cabinet members led by Executive Secretary Salvador Mediladea attended the event.
Also present were Madam Honeylet Avancena and Senators Imee Marcos and Christopher “Bong” Go.
“We express our deep gratitude to the Filipino people for standing behind the President who has broken barriers and has overcome challenges in his six years of service to the nation.
We likewise thank the public for supporting the Duterte Administration in bringing genuine, meaningful and positive change,” Andanar said.
He urged Filipinos anew to remain united and supportive of the next administration.
“As we are about to enter another chapter in our political history, let us continue to be united in purpose to make the Philippines a peaceful, proud and progressive country that we all want our nation to be,” he said.
He also welcomed the second quarter survey of Publicus that showed that Duterte is ending his term with a 75 percent approval rating and a 69 percent trust rating.
FIGHTING CORRUPTION
The President, during yesterday’s oath taking of Davao officials led by presidential son and incoming Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, reiterated his family’s commitment to serve the public.
Duterte joked that he and his children are willing to take on the responsibility for the whole country.
“This is a very queer coincidence in history because ang presidente at bise president ng Pilipinas ay Duterte (This is a very queer coincidence in history because the president and the vice president of the Philippines are Dutertes),” he said.
He said he is still the president, with incoming President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. yet to take his oath, while his daughter, Sara Duterte has already taken her oath as the vice president-elect.
Apart from the Vice President-elect and the incoming Davao City Mayor, Duterte’s older son Paolo is the congressman of Davao.
The President, with only a few days until he steps down from the presidency, again talked about his commitment to address corruption, which he described as “endemic” and “lucrative” but can be “minimized.”
“Corruption is endemic. It cannot be stopped, but it can be minimized,” he said as he again talked of the unpaid taxes involving some tycoons and oligarchs that were solved during his term. He mentioned the issues that previously involved Lucio Tan, ABS-CBN and Milelong.
The elder Duterte had previously said that he will fight corruption until his last day in office.
